First look at the new four-screen Wolverhampton city centre Lockworks cinema opening to the public on Friday

Express & Star

We take a look a the new Cinema at the Lighthouse in Wolverhampton.

Transcript

00:00Well, we're here at the launch of the Lockworks Cinema, which officially opens on Friday.

00:08Two million pounds has been spent transforming the Chub Building, Historic Building, Listed Building, in the centre of Wolverhampton.

00:18A joint venture between PDJ, the cinema management, and Wolverhampton City Council.

00:24And we've got two representatives here, Stephen Simpkin, the leader of Wolverhampton City Council, no less.

00:32Did you enjoy the presentation?

00:34I think nobody could be more blown away than me today.

00:38I remember seeing what it was before, and like our motto, out of darkness come a flight,

00:45and the Wolves colours incorporated into a city centre venue, it's absolutely amazing.

00:51You can see the quality and the finish, and the sound, and the picture that we've just observed.

00:57Absolutely.

00:58This is a place where people will make memories for many, many years to come.

01:03It's been a marvellous relationship, and I mean relationship, that we've had with all concerns of him.

01:11So, James and the family, it's a family-run company, the local authority, and the Midland Investment Association,

01:21who actually have leased the building.

01:24But, you can see that it's absolutely top draw.

01:29I remember the former lighthouse cinema here in the Chubb building, that was lovely.

01:33But now we've got four screens, it's been completely transformed, as we'll see on the video.

01:39Significant investment from the City Council.

01:42It probably needs the people of Wolverhampton to support it now.

01:46Oh, definitely, and you know, the people of Wolverhampton will support that.

01:51We're interested to, and also, what we're really keen to do is,

01:55I was just talking to some of James, is that originally, way back in the late 80s, early 90s,

02:02the Council stepped in then to keep it as a community asset.

02:05Now, I would say that the investment that we've put in, it's a definite community asset,

02:09and it will bring memories to people.

02:12What's really important is, is that the affordability of the company has been key

02:18the way that they're going to operate their business.

02:20So, yep, I'm confident that people in Wolverhampton will come and support this.

02:24I, for one, will definitely come and support this venue.

02:27And we've seen a sneak preview of some of the movies that are coming out in the next few months.

02:32What takes your fancy?

02:34Well, to be perfectly honest, I was blown away by them all.

02:37To be fair, there's some interesting things.

02:39I do keen on Stephen King.

02:41I'm a bit of a scaredy cat when it comes to that, to be fair.

02:44But no, I think the offer, there's something there for everyone.

02:47I'm talking to James and the team.

02:50There's some retro films that will be coming back into use.

02:53So that's important that there's a mix of offer for everybody to come and enjoy

02:58an evening out, an afternoon out with the children.

03:02You know, it just adds to the cultural offer that we've got within the city.

03:06The Grand Theatre's just up the road.

03:08The train station's right on the doorstep.

03:10We've got the halls down the road.

03:12This is another asset that's come back into life.

03:15And James, James Jermis, the director of PGJ.

03:21I mean, you've got cinemas all over the country, down south.

03:24You've got one in Sutton Coldfield.

03:26So that is your business, isn't it, really?

03:29Matt, just tell us a little bit about the transformation of this building.

03:32It's been six months in the making.

03:34It's been six months or so in the making.

03:36We're absolutely delighted to deliver it now to the spec that, you know, we dreamed of

03:40and we sort of, you know, got down on paper a little while ago.

03:43So, you know, we've got four absolute state-of-the-art auditoriums.

03:46We've got latest projection, latest audio, the best cinema quality seats on the market.

03:52Refreshments stands galore.

03:54There's nothing more you'd want from the cinema experience.

03:57This is the creme, sort of de la creme of what there is to offer.

04:01And we really hope to see everyone who loves a movie come down and experience it

04:05and, like Stephen was saying, make those magic moments, make those memories cry, laugh,

04:10and experience every sort of range of emotion with the local community.

04:15There's nothing that beats a shared experience and cinema is absolutely key to that.

04:19How does it compare to your other picture houses, if you like?

04:24In terms of, I know it's new, is it different spec?

04:28How have they been received elsewhere?

04:29They've been very well received elsewhere.

04:31We've, you know, we've made the investment in all of our other sites

04:34into the highest quality seating, projection, audio, etc.

04:37Audiences expect the best and we want to deliver that.

04:40But we want to deliver it at a price that is affordable and reasonable

04:43that keeps customers coming back for more.

04:45Yeah, and as we've seen, you've got some blockbusters on you.

04:48You've got a good variety of movies over the next few months.

04:52Absolutely.

04:53No, the slate is looking incredibly strong.

04:55We're at the back end now of the effects of Covid, the writers' strike and everything else.

04:59And the slate now for the next 18 months is looking phenomenally strong.

05:03There really will be something for everyone.

05:05And like Stephen said, it's not just about the films that are coming out brand new.

05:08It's all the rep cinema.

05:09We're looking to bring back the events side of things from National Theatre, Royal Ballet, Royal Opera House.

05:14And much, much more that we're going to bring to the cinema that, you know, really will provide something for everyone.

05:20Well, we'll look forward to Friday in the coming months to see how it develops.

05:25Thank you very much.

05:26Thank you very much.

05:27Thank you James.

05:28Thank you Stephen.

05:29How's ya?

05:30Need to hold a frame up?

05:31How you doing lads?

05:32You alright?

05:33How's it going?

05:34How's it going?

05:35Good man.

05:36Good.

05:37Yeah, so you guys, you put events on yourself, don't you?

05:38Yeah.

05:39We do.

05:40Just fill us in on what you do.

05:41We've caught up with you at the Expression Star before.

05:43But just fill us in on what's your world.

05:45What do you do?

05:46Our world.

05:47Our world is, we call, run Wolfampton Film Festival.

05:50Yeah.

05:51Yeah.

05:52And we put on multiple events throughout the year.

05:54So what are you thinking then?

05:55First thoughts on how you've seen it?

05:58It's amazing.

05:59It's something that Wolfampton desperately needed.

06:02And we finally have an amazing cinema like this.

06:05So yeah, can't wait until this, you know, starts operating.

06:08Yeah.

06:09Yeah.

06:10It's a really big achievement for Wolfampton.

06:12As a filmmaker, it's a dream to have a place like this.

06:16Yeah.

06:17All right.

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